OUR VIEW: Planning for a 'clean energy' future

As technology improves and makes renewable energy more reliable and cost-effective — and as government policies encourage the development of such sources — the balance will inevitably shift more toward renewable energy sources. Already, our region is beginning to see a wide variety of both small-scale and large...

The Herald News, Fall River, MA

Writer

Posted Aug. 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 17, 2013 at 5:22 PM

Posted Aug. 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 17, 2013 at 5:22 PM

» Social News

The electrical grid is a complicated maze that we all rely on, but few of us understand. When you flip on a light switch, turn up the air conditioner or turn on the TV or computer, it’s hard to imagine just how many pieces go into generating that power.

Electricity comes from a wide array of resources these days — running the gambit from traditional “dirty” fossil fuels to newer, cleaner, “green” energy. With a variety of electric suppliers consumers can choose from, some folks are willing to pay a premium for clean energy. Most of us probably fall somewhere in the middle, ideally favoring cleaner energy, but ultimately settling for sources that can provide power at a reasonable price.

The standard-issue power portfolio the main utility companies purchase generally represents a balance of consumer preference and cost. Electric utilities like National Grid, NStar and Taunton’s municipal power company, TMLP, all purchase the energy they transmit to local homes and businesses from a variety of resources — coal, nuclear, natural gas, wind, solar, hydro, landfill gas and other new technologies — all delivered through a complicated power grid.

As technology improves and makes renewable energy more reliable and cost-effective — and as government policies encourage the development of such sources — the balance will inevitably shift more toward renewable energy sources. Already, our region is beginning to see a wide variety of both small-scale and large-scale power generation projects, using renewable resources like wind and solar, even capturing landfill gases and other organic waste to be converted into electricity. This will be a gradual shift that will require a great deal of planning and patience, but will also provide economic benefits to the region.

For years, Bristol County has been a big generator of that electricity in New England with traditional oil-, natural gas- and coal-fired power plants. Somerset’s Montaup Power Generating Station, decommissioned after being unable to comply with stricter environmental regulations, Brayton Point Power Station, New England’s largest coal-fired plant and in the process of being sold, have generated significant amounts of power for the grid and generated a great deal of tax revenue for the town.

There is a bigger appetite for renewable energy. But until renewable energy technology, cost and reliability improves, there’s still a need for coal-generated power sources in order to provide reliable and affordable electricity to the grid.

Utilities and consumers alike need power sources that are reliable. That’s the trouble with some clean energy sources, like wind and solar: The sun’s not always shining bright, and winds aren’t always strong. On the other hand, the cost of fossil fuel-generated power is also not as reliable as it once was. Oil and natural gas are finite resources with prices affected by supply and demand, as well as economic and political turmoil.

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The clean energy transition is one that Somerset, in particular, must prepare for due to its heavy reliance on the power plant for its tax base and economic well-being. After seeing a dramatic decline in the town’s tax revenue tied to the power plants, Somerset is diving in to address the fiscal crisis it faces and plan for a cleaner environmental and fiscal future.

Somerset residents and officials can do their part to envision and encourage the type of development they would like to see by working cooperatively with developers. Ultimately, though, market forces and other factors out of our control will decide what becomes of Brayton Point and other power plants, along with other traditional and clean energy-generation projects that dot Bristol County’s landscape.

Locally and nationally, there is a wide variety of opinions on the best course to follow into the future. Let’s hope some bright ideas that are also realistic and reasonable are generated through efforts to build a consensus. Power plays, hyperbole and false choices presented by special interest groups and political activists are not conducive to generating sound policy. Facts, open minds, patience and compromise will be required to help our region navigate the changing winds that will gradually lead to a cleaner energy and a healthier economy.